oakes



(No Model.)

H. E. OAKES.

BANJO.

No. 498,361. Patented May 30, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. OAKES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE S.

LOOKE, OF SAME PLACE.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,361, dated May 30, 1893.

Application filed September 5, 1892. Serial No. 445,090. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY E. OAKEs, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos, of which the fol lowing is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is a transverse section of my improved banjo-rim; and Fig. 2 a like viewillustrating a modification.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates especially to an improvement in the construction of banjo-rims, the especial object being to improve the vibration and quality of tone.

In the drawings, A represents the wooden banjo-rim. Said rim is provided with an annular laterally curved groove, 6, adjacent its upper edge and in its outer face as shown in Fig. 1. A metallic hoop, B, curved laterally on the same lines as the groove, b, is dropped over the wooden rim, said metallic hoop being of greater diameter than the exterior diameter of said rim in the curved groove. The top of the metallic hoop when in position slightly overlaps the top of the wooden rim as at, f. Said metallic hoop is secured by bolts, h, to the rim and washers, g, of hard rubber or other suitable material or interposed between the rim and hoop on said bolt so that a clear space, i, is left therebetween, there being no points of contact direct between the metallic hoop and wooden rim. The lower end of the metallic hoop is provided with lateral projections, it, at intervals which perform the functions of the ordinary brackets or lugs usually secured directly to the rim. The head or skin, 0, is stretched over the curved top, f, of the metallic rim and has the usual band-wire, m, over which the ordinary straining-hooks, p, take. These hooks pass downward through the lugs, 70, and are tight ened by the nut, q, in the usual manner. thus constructing the rim a direct metallic bearing is afforded for the head or skin and the vibration and quality of tone is greatly intensified, the space, 11, being essential in effecting this, preventing the wood from deadening the sound. By thus arranging the parts the cost of construction is greatly lessened as the brackets ordinarily bolted to the wooden frame to receive the straining-pins or hooks, p, are entirely done away with. Moreover, mounting said straining-hooks in the metallic hoop on which the band-wire and head have a direct bearing, a sharp, clear metallic tone is imparted to the banjo.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 an annular groove or rabbet, r, is formed on the inner face of the wooden rim, A, and a metallic hoop, B overlapping the top of the rim at, f, is secured in said rabbet by screws, 7L2, leaving a space, F, therebetween. The ordinary bracket, 25, is secured to the wooden rim and the straining-hook, 19 is mounted therein and takes on the band-wire, m This form in its essential features is practically that of the first described form.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is- 1. A banjo having a rim comprising a wooden hoop provided adjacent its top with an annular-groove; a metallic hoop disposed in said groove with a space between it and the wooden hoop; and mechanism for straining the head onto said metallic hoop.

2. A banjo having a rim comprising a wooden hoop provided in one of its faces with an annular groove; a metallic hoop rigidly supported in said groove with a space between said hoops, the upper end of said metallic hoop overlapping the top of the wooden hoop; and mechanism for straining the head onto said metallic hoop, substantially as set forth.

3. A banjo having a wooden rim provided with an annular groove in one of its faces; a metallic hoop rigidly supported in said groove with a space between, and lugs on said inetallic hoop for the straining-hooks, substantially as set forth.

4. A banjo having a wooden rim provided with an annular groove in one of its faces; a metallic hoop rigidly supported in said groove in the wooden hoop with a space between, the upper edge of said metallic hoop overlapping the Wooden hoop and the lower edge thereof provided with lugs for the straining-hooks, substantially as described.

5. A banjo havinga rim comprising the 5 Wooden hoop, A, provided with the annular groove, 1), in combination with the -n1etallio hoop, B, rigidly supported in said groove leaving the space, 2'.

6. In a banjo, the Wooden rim, A, provided 1'0 with the annular groove Z), in combination with the metallic hoop, B, rigidly supported in said groove leaving the space, 11, and provided with lugs, 7s; a head and band-Wire; and the straining hooks, p, connecting said lugs and band-Wire substantially as and for [5 the purpose set forth.

HARRY E. OAKES. lVitnesses:

O. M. SHAW, F. SUMINsBY. 

